Current Information:

Born-Penge

October 1918 was a month which saw the Allies pushing the Germans back all along the Western Front and liberating towns, villages and whole areas, which had been under German occupation for four long years.  On 9th October, 1918, the important town of Cambrai was captured by Canadian troops and by 11th October, the front line had been pushed forward some four kilometres to the east of Cambrai.

At 4am on 11th October, 17 Brigade of 24th Division attacked from Avesnes-les-Aubert to capture St Aubert and occupy the railway east of the River Selle. The 1st Royal Fusiliers and 3rd Rifle Brigade battalions led the attack with 8th Royal West Surrey (Queens) in support. 3rd Rifle Brigade came under very heavy machine-gun fire from a water tower when they reached the road from Avesnes-les-Aubert station to St Aubert where their leading platoons were practically wiped out by this and from another machine-gun firing from St Aubert. 1st Royal Fusiliers had set off from Rieux-en-Cambresis but were caught by a German artillery barrage whilst assembling and suffered heavily as a result. They were also held up by machine-gun fire as they advanced and with the division on the left failing to make progress, 3rd Rifle Brigade found themselves isolated and unable to proceed any further. Eventually they withdrew slightly to a position midway between Avesnes-les-Aubert and St Aubert while 1st Royal Fusiliers established night-posts around Villers-en-Cauchies and St Aubert. The support battalion, 8th Queens did not escape lightly. They too assembled at Rieux-en-Cambresis where they were hit by the enemy barrage and when they were sent forward to guard the left flank of 1st Royal Fusiliers and later to add some weight to the faltering advance, machine-gun and shell fire caused many casualties among their ranks. One of these was William Andrews who was killed in action.